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"Proven leadership doesn't mean just occupying an office for a period of time. And in fact, if you've occupied an office for 12 years, you're not likely to do more in the 13th year than you did in the 12 years you were there," said Ward 2 councilman Chokwe Lumumba.

"I have fashioned my vision for the city for I SEE -- infrastructure, safety, economic development, education," said attorney Regina Quinn. "In order to lead, you have to be able to serve and I'm willing and able to serve the citizens of Jackson."

"It's not about me. It's about you. I've already made this statement that I don't want the salary. I want the position so I can help people," said Ward 4 councilman Frank Bluntson. "They don't have to call 311. They don't have to do that, you know what I mean? They are 311 and that's what they have to do, because sometimes I say they don't answer 911."

"I've found that we need some real change here in the city of Jackson. The kind of change that requires true and tried leadership," said businessman Jonathan Lee. "I decided that we would focus on what we call those CORE issues -- crime, opportunities for employment, rebuilding infrastructure and of course, education. The incumbent mayor always talks about his experience, but I urge you to look at what experience has gotten us: Crumbling infrastructure, problems with our police department."

"People want me to run away from my record. I want to run on my record. I'm the only candidate up here who has devoted his entire life to public service," said Mayor Harvey Johnson. "For some of us, experience has gotten us judgments against our company. For some of us, we run companies into the ground that we're supposed to have ownership of. I make business decisions every day. I don't run from a fight. I don't run from my obligations."

The candidates also tackled several issues, including the city's crime rate.

"I think it's safe to say that there are a lot of people in Jackson that don't necessarily feel safe," Lee said. "We've got to have new leadership. I believe change begins with leadership. We've got to have a chief of police that understands that morale is indeed an issue."

"People are working with low morale. They're not going to do a great job because they think people are not watching their back while they try to do their job out there," Bluntson said.

"One of the things you'll get in a Lumumba administration is due process and fairness, whether you're a police officer, or whether you're a person who has to deal with a police officer," Lumumba said.

"Crime is down. If you had low morale, crime should be up. Take for example South Jackson," Johnson said. "You see more police officers in your neighborhoods now because we have the Direct Action Response Team that suppresses crime in that area. We're going in the right direction because of the things that have been put in place."

"If you think crime is going down, go out to Presidential Hills and talk to those folks over there about what's going on in Presidential Hills," Quinn said.

Several attendees said the debate did not change their minds on whom they would support.

"I still didn't hear any clear plans for our city. I think most of the candidates came just to take jabs at each other," Amber Thomas said.

"I think there was a lot of humor. I think there was some good points brought out by each candidate. I think there are plenty of things to think about as we choose, finally, who we're going to vote for. But it didn't change my mind," Don Seago said.

"I would still probably like to see another debate," Darcel Odom said.

Mayoral candidate Charlotte Reeves was one of seven candidates who were not part of the debate because they did not meet certain criteria in time.

"All 12 [candidates] should be on the stage, and if it's too many and not enough room on the stage, then don't do it for any," Reeves said.